Sheet sorting apparatus and automatic document feeder apparatus including the same

An automatic document feeder apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet supply tray for stacking original sheets;
• draw-out means for touching a top surface among the original sheets and drawing out the original sheet on the sheet supply tray;
• support means connected to the draw-out means for rising and lowering the draw-out means;
• sheet supply means for separating the original sheets drawn out by the draw-out means into a single sheet and for feeding the single sheet;
• a discharge tray for storing the original sheets read at a reading position;
• an original sheet transport path having a paper feed path for guiding the original sheet fed by the sheet supply means and a discharge path extending from the paper feed path for guiding the original sheet read at the reading position to the discharge tray;
• stopper means rotationally disposed between the draw-out means and the sheet supply means, said stopper means being moved to a first position to regulate leading edges of the original sheets stacked on the sheet supply tray disposed at a paper feed entrance of the paper feed path, a second position for allowing the original sheets drawn-out by the draw-out means to pass and a third position between the first position and the second position;
• regulating means associated with the stopper means to regulate a movement of the stopper means at the first position for regulating the leading edges of the original sheets;
• displacement means to displace the stopper means from the first position to the second position in association with a lowering movement of the draw-out means;
• and
• release means situated adjacent to the stopper means to release regulation of the regulating means to allow the stopper means to lower by its own weight in order for the stopper means to be displaced from the first position to the third position by the displacement means and to be displaced from the third position to the second position by the leading edges of the sheets drawn out by the draw-out means.